Louis Hathaway “ Ka ron Hi io”

Mr. Louis “Ka ron Hi io” Hathaway, age 79, of 306 N. Helena Road, Akwesasne died Wednesday evening (July 30, 2008) in the emergency room of Fletcher-Allen Medical Center after being airlifted from Massena Memorial Hospital.

He was born February 27, 1929 in Hogansburg the son of Louise Laughing. He was given the name of Ka ron Hi io which meant clear sky. He grew up on the old homestead in Frogtown. He attended Thomas Indian School. He married Margaret “Sally” Taylor on May 26, 1951 at St. Regis Catholic Church with Rev. Michael Jacobs, officiating. She predeceased him on November 6, 1994.

At the age 13 he went to work at the Hudson River Log Drives, where he saved the lives of many men who had fallen in the river. He then went to Syracuse at the age of 18 to attending welding school and obtain his professional welders license. He returned back to area and worked on the St. Lawrence Seaway Project at the Eisenhower Locks. He also worked on a Defense Department Grant in the development of the missile bases surrounding Plattsburgh. He was then hired as the first native employee at the General Motors Plant where he worked as a journeyman. While there, he was instrumental in the hiring of many Native Americans, throughout his decades of service.

In addition, he was an organic gardener, who raised Beef cattle and Beefalo to provide for his family. As a welder, he owned and operated a welding shop for many years and enjoyed building stock race cars. He was a pit welder at both the Cornwall Speedway and the Fort Covington Race Track. He was also a safety inspector of roll bars on the race cars. Louie also operated Hathaway’s Custom Meat Cutting on the Helena Road for many years. He was communicant of St. Regis Catholic Church, where he served as an usher for many years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus in Hogansburg. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Louis was fluent and proficient as a speaker of the “old” form of the Mohawk language.

He is survived by his children, Kim Hathaway and her companion, Frank Vando, Akwesasne; Brenda Joy Coughlin and her husband, John, Plattsburgh; Thomas Louis Hathaway, Sr, Akwesasne; an adopted daughter, Geraldine April McDonald, Akwesasne; 3 grandchildren, Amy Joy Rugar and her husband, Mark, Schuyler Falls; Thomas Louis “TJ” Hathaway, Jr. and Jonathan Joel Hathaway, both of Akwesasne; his sister, Louise Scoffield, Illinois; his brother, Charles “Chuck” Scoffield, Schenectady; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his grandson, Joshua Joel Hathaway in 1988 at age 3 months.

Friends called Saturday at Ka nion Ke Ha Ka Ka’ianereh kowa Ka’non ses neh Longhouse Monday. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, August 4, 2008 at St. Regis Catholic Church with Rev. George H. Belgarde, S.J., officiating. Burial followed in Pine Grove Cemetery, Massena.  Arrangements are with the Donaldson Funeral Home, Massena.

Condolences may be made online at http://www.donaldsonfh.com